Aelian de natura animalium online dating

However, the most probable explanation was given by Hammond , who wrote that the name Astræus originated from the name of the nymph Astræa who was the protector of river headsprings that are common in limestone karst formations [4].She was one of Naiads, one of the nymphs of flowing water.And after these Erigenia bare the star Eosphorus, and the gleaming stars with which heaven is crowned.Hesiod, THE THEOGONY n his book De Natura Animalium, Claudius Ælianus (170-230 A.by Goran Grubic and Andrew Herd This paper originally appeared in The American Fly Fisher, Fall 2001, Volume 27, number 4, pages 16-22.We reproduce it here for readers who haven't yet subscribed to the journal. 375-377) And Eurybia, bright goddess, was joined in love to Crius and bare great Astræus, and Pallas, and Perses who also was eminent among all men in wisdom. 378-382) And Eos bare to Astræus the strong-hearted winds, brightening Zephyrus, and Boreas, headlong in his course, and Notus,- a goddess mating in love with a god.Furthermore, the Axios between Berœa and Thessalonika could not have been a trout stream in Roman times; although in its upper, higher reaches, some 200 km further inland, it probably was, and many of its tributaries are still trout rivers.The Aliákmon, on the other hand, is a lovely trout stream and cannot be rejected completely, although it flows southwards from the Berœa and could not be said to be exactly between Berœa and Thessalonica.

In its favour, this river is roughly in the area between Berœa and Thessalonica, it has a trout population, and it starts from headsprings in the limestone slopes of Mountain Bermium (Vérmion).

Martin was not convinced that it is possible to identify the exact river clearly, although he suggested that it might be the river presently known as the Edhessaíos, on the basis of an 1829 map.

This theory seems unlikely, as in Ælian’s time this river was known as the Scirtus and there is no compelling reason why he should not have known of it, not least because of the problems it caused with its periodic flooding of the Via Egnatia, of which more later.

Astræa ("the star-maiden") was the daughter of Zeus and Themis.

She was, as was her mother, a goddess of justice and she was selected as the nurse of the lady Beroe, the patroness of Berœa.We believe that Hammond’s views are correct and do not treat the rivers Axios and Aliákmon as possible candidates for the Astræus.